Automatic electric switch



v June 26, 1934. w wu 1,964,018

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 12, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jun 26,1934. w, wu c 1,964,018

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Oct. 12, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r I r H72 //w//v TOE HOW/km Wur/aak Qrraggi Patented June 26, 1934 UNITEDSTATES AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH William Wurdack, St.

Louis, Mo., assignor to William Wurdack Electric Manufacturing Company,St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 12, 1931,Serial No. 568,379

14 Claims.

therein; the provision, in such apparatus, of

means for manually manipulating the apparatus for opening and closingthe circuit, said means, however, beingtrip-free", that is, inoperativefor circuit-closing purposes in the presence of abnormal current-flowconditions in the circuit; and the provision of a branch-circuit cut-outincorporating circuit-protective features replacing the usualswitch-and-fuse ar rangement heretofore generally employed for as suchpurposes.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (three sheets) Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of an automatic electric-switch embodying my invention,the apparatus being shown in circuit-closing or on'f position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view taken oppositely to Figure- 1 andapproximately along the line 2-2, Figure 4; v

Fi ure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line3-3, Figure 2, showing the switch-carrying spring-biased rocker;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the switching apparatus;

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the trip-magnet andits armature, taken approximately along the line 55, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing theapparatus in automatically tripped circuit-opening or oil" position withthe switch-setting toggle in expanded operative position for r'e-settingthe switch to circuitclosing position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing 5 the switch-settingtoggle knuckle'd in non-operative position and the manipulating memberor handle in trip-free position; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the apparatus in partialswitch-opening position.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, Adesignates a suitable base-plate preferably of insulation material,provided, in the present instance, with a pair of suitably attachedfront and rear depending legs 1, 2, respectively, for convenientmounting upon a panel-board or other support. Adjacent the front leg 1,the base A is provided with an aperture 3, and in the present instancethe base A is shown with its opposite rear corners side-marginally cutaway, as at 4, 4' respectively.

Depending through the base A adjacent. its rear margin, is aterminal-post or screw 5 having threaded securing engagement andconducting relation on the under side of base A with an angularextension 6 of a fixed contact-blade 7 projecting obliquely upwardly andforwardly in the cut-away or recessed base-portion 4, as best seen inFigure 1.

Projecting upwardly through the base A on its side margin forwardly ofthe cut-out 4, is a conducting-post or screw 8, and fixed flatwise onbase A in conducting relation with post 8, is a strip 9 terminating inan obliquely upwardly and rearwardly projecting contact-blade 10iongitudinally of the base A aligned with and spaced from the rear blade7 for co-operation with the swingable or oscillatory blades of theswitch, as presently appearing.

B designates the main frame of the apparatus, which is disposedlongitudinally on the base A adjacent the contact-blades '1, 10, andcomprises preferably a pair of rigid members or plates 11, 12,permanently connected together in upstanding spaced parallel relation bysuitable front and rear spaceryblocks 13, 14, respectively, suitablyiixed to the base A, for frame-securing purposes, as by meansv ofsuitably elongated screws 15 passed through the respective legs 1, 2,and base A for threadedly engaging the blocks 13, 14, as best seen inFigure 2.

Along their lower margins, the frame-plates 11, 12, are suitablycut-away providing irregularly formed plate-edge bottom walls, as at a,b,

shaped notches 16 having their apices disposed in a plane transverselybisecting the plane of the fixed blades 7, 10, and provided withsuitably formed arcuate fulcrum seats 17, suitably adjacent to which thedownwardly diverging opposite side walls of the notches 16 are providedwith opposed front and rear arcuate stop-seats .18, 18', the rear sidewalls of the notches 16 being extended downwardly in approximatelyvertical relation to base A and the medial bisecting plane of thenotches 16 extending forwardly and downwardly from the fulcrum seats 17,as best seen in Figure 2, where merely the frame-plate 11 is shown, theframe-plate 12, however, being similarly formed, as will be understood.

C designates a Ushaped rocker-frame or double-crank for supporting theoscillatory switch-jaws of the apparatus, the rocker C being adapted forremovable insertion through the cutout portions of the respective frameplates 11, 12, and including a crank-pin 19 and respective crank-arms20, 21 extending angularly from the opposite ends thereof.Longitudinally spaced on the arms 20, 21, are pairs of inwardlypresented opposed spacer-blocks 22, 23, and 22', 23', respectively, theblocks 22', 23', being riveted, as at 24, to the arm 21, and the blocks22, 23, being secured to the arm 20 as will shortly appear.

The opposing blocks 22, 22, are in transverse alignment suitably mountedat the ends of the respective arms 20, 21, and provided with axiallyreduced portions or fulcrum pins 25 adapted for rotarily engaging thefulcrum seats 17 in the notches 16 of the plates 11, 12.

The opposing blocks 23, 23, are also in transverse alignment locatedintermediately of the respective arms 20, 21, and provided likewise withaxially reduced portions or stop-pins 26 adapted for alternatelyimpinging the opposite stop-pin seats 18, 18', in the walls of thenotches 16 on oscillation of the rocker-frame or crank C on its fulcrumpins 25, as presently appearing.

The blocks 22, 23, are provided with elongated rivet-shanks 27 passedthrough the arm 20 for projecting laterally therefrom over the basecut-out 4, and supported on the rivetshanks 27 is a switch assembly D,which includes a pair of metal washers 28, between which is mounted apair of insulation washers 29 spaced by means of insulation-thimbles 30on the rivetshanks 27. Mounted on the thimbles 30 and firmly grippedtogether and between the insulation washers 29 by riveting the shanks 27over the outside washer 28, is a pair of hub-members 31, from whichextend in suitable angular relation mating pairs of radial conductingarms 32 oscillatory in the vertical plane of the fixed blades 7, 10.about the axis of the fulcrum pins 25 as a center, and carrying endwisepresented spaced co-operating pairs of jaws 33, 33, having oppositelyflaring ears 33" providing throat-like entrance to the spacetherebetween, the respective pairs of jaws 33, 33', being co-operativelyadapted for sliding upon and oonductively engaging the fixedcontactblades 7, 10.

The switch D makes contact of its respective pairs of jaws 33, 33', withthe blades 7, 10, for electrically connecting the latter through theconducting arms 32 and their hubs 31 as and when the rocker-frame C isrearwardly swung to approximately vertical or circuit-closing positionwith the stop-pins 26 in impingement with the rear stop-pin-seats 18, asbest seen in Figures 1 and 2. However, when the rocker-frame C is 1'0!-wardly swung for impinging the stop-pins 26 with the'front stop-pinseats 18, the swtch D is correspondingly oscillated in the presentinstance approximately 45 degrees to circuit opening position with therespective pairs of jaws 33, 33, wholly out of engagement with andsubstantially widely spaced from the also respective blades 7, 10, asbest seen in Figures 6 and 7.

Mounted between the frame-plates 11, 12, adjacent the base A anddisposed preferably in the medial bisecting plane of the notches 16, asbest seen in Figures 2, 6, 7, and 8, is a pintle 34, on which forrotatory movement intermediate the frame-plates 11, 12, is mounted atone end the lower arm 35 of an arcuate or irregularly curvedsubstantially C-shaped generally rearwardly presented lever E adaptedfor oscillatorily embracing the rocker C.

The lever E has spring-biased toggle-connection with the rocker C bymeans of a tensionally yieldable member or toggle-spring 36 pivotally,as by a spring-eye 36', attached at its lower end to the crank-pin 19 ofthe rocker C and at its up per end pivotally, as at 37, attached to theupper arm 38 of the lever E in such manner that the pivot-point 37 isshiftable with the lever E in toggle-knuckling manner from one side tothe other of the line connecting the pivotal axes of the lever E and therocker C.

The lower arm 35 of the lever E is provided with a cam surface, as at39, adapted for co-operation with the rocker C preferably by impingingthe spring-eye 36 engaging the rocker-pin 19 for correspondinglyshifting the rocker C from its described circuit-closing appearingforward swingable actuation of the lever E.

By'such arrangement, the rocker C will oscillate on its fulcrum 25 untilthe axis of the spring 36 is in registration with the axis of thefulcrum 25, as shown in Figure 8, whereby the switch D is initiallymoved for partial disengagement from the blades 7, 10, thus reducing theeffort required for the final circuit-rupturing movement of the switchD.

Hence, as the lever E continues its forward movement for shifting theaxis of the spring 36 past the axis of the fulcrum 25, the tension ofthe stretched or tensionally expanded spring 36 becomes operative forsnapping and rapidly, in a manner most effective for suppressing anyoccurring current-rupturing arc, spacing the jaws 33, 33', of the switchD from the blades 7, 10, the changing bias of the spring 36 thus causingthe rocker C to complete its oscillatory movement to circuit openingposition shown in Figure 6.

Provided at its front end with a bifurcated head 40 pivotally connected,as at 40, to the upper arm 38 of the lever E, is a plunger 41 suitablyreciprocable in and through the forwardly-presented open-end'of a barrel42. Mounted on the plunger 41 for compressive engagement between thehead 40 and the rear wall of the barrel 42, is a yieldable member orspring 43, the barrel .42 having a rearwardly projecting lug 44 workingin a suitable vertically slotted frame cross-member 45 supported by andbetween the frame-plates 11, 12.

In circuit-closing position, the lever E and rocker C are both disposedin extreme rearwardly swung positions, as best seen in Figure 2, suchthat the spring 36 is obliquely disposed wholly to the rear of the lineconnecting the rocker fulcrum 25 and lever-pintle 34, the tensional pullof the spring 36 thus biasing the lever E yieldposition on presentlyingly upon the plunger-spring 43 and the rocker C upon the rearstop-seats 18.

The lever E is endwise tensionally influenced, however, by theplunger-spring 43, which is of ample strength for the purpose, forovercoming the pressure of'the lever-spring 36 for normally propellingthe lever E forwardly toward circuitopening position, the lever E androcker C then being both disposed in extreme forwardly swung position,with the spring 36 disposed wholly forwardly of the, line connecting thefulcrum 25 and pintle 34, as best seen in Figure 6.

0n the underside of the upper lever-arm 38 is provided a stop-seat 46adapted for impinging a stop-bar 4'7 mounted in and between theframeplates 11, 12, in such position as to arrest the lever E when inits extreme forward circuit-opening position, the tensional pull of thespring 36 biasing the lever E upon the stop 4'7 and the rocker C, inturn, upon the front stop-seats l8.

Disposed forwardly in the frame B, is a manipulative member F comprisingan approximately circular body-member or disc 48 pivotally mounted foroscillatory movement on a shaft 49 supported suitably by and between theframeside members 11, 12. Upon its rearwardly-presented side, the disc48 is suitable chordally cutaway, as shown, and provded with a pair ofarmlike radially projecting suitably spaced registering ears 50, forpurposes presently appearing. Projecting upwardly from the disc 48, is aradial handle 51 adapted to be forwardly and upwardly inclined when incircuit-closing position, as in Figure 2, and to be rearwardly andupwardly inclined when in circuit opening position, as shown in Figure6, the peripheral portions of the disc 48 adjacent the handle 51 beingconveniently adapted to carry suitable indicia, one such being shown asat 52 in Figure 4, for indicating the condition of theswitching-apparatus.

The manipulative member F is operatively connected for switch-settingpurposes with the lever E by means of a spring-set secondarytogglemechanism G, which includes a link 53 composed of a pair of spacedside members pivotally con nected at their rear end, as at 54, to theupper arm 38 of the lever E, the members of the link 53 being suitablycut away on their under side, as at 55, for clearing the stop-bar 4'7.At their forward end, the members of the link 53 are preferablyintegrally connected together by a depending U-shaped stirrup 56, which,in turn, carries a knuckle pin 57 to which is foldably jointed orpivotally connected one end of a link 58 having its other end pivotally,in turn, by a primary knuckle-pin 59, connected to the ears 50 of themember F.

The stirrup 56 carries a lateral lug 60, upon which bears one end of atorsional spring 61 mounted or coiled on the laterally projecting end ofthe pin 5'7. At its other end, the spring 61 is engaged with a pin 62laterally projecting from the link 58, the latter being of suchdimensions and being so biased by the spring 61 as to normally impingethe bight of the stirrup 56 with the axis of the pin 5'7 disposed intoggle-locking manner substantially above a line connecting the endpivots 54 and 59 of the toggle-links 53, 58, respectively, therebyestablishing a toggle-locking effect through the upwardly curved line ofpressure action connecting the points 54, 5'7, and 59, which toggle maybe broken, however, by downwardly flexing the links 53, 58.

The several parts of the apparatus are of such relative dimensions that,when the toggle G is in its described locked and extended position,rotary movement of themember F for rearward swinging actuation of theears 50 will correspondingly rearwardly shift the toggle G and throughthe toggle G push or exert pressure endwise on the lever E with ensuingrearward actuation of the lever E until the latter is in finalcircuit-closing position. At such time, the pin 59, which suitably forsuch purpose projects laterally from the ears 50, impinges the wall b ofthe frameplate 12 for limiting the oscillation of the member F, suchthat the axis of rotation thereof, that is to say, the shaft 49, willthen lie below the projection of a line connecting the toggle-pivots 54,59, thus establishing a primary toggle-effect through the upwardlycurved line of action connecting the points 54, 5'7, 59 and 49, forlocking the lever E in circuit closing position against the pressure ofthe plunger-spring 43. Such toggleeifect may be tripped or broken andthe constraint upon shifting movement of the lever E removed normally bymanually reversely rotating the member F, but the switch may be trippedalso by applying downward pressure on the link 58 for reversely rotatingthe member F or for breaking the secondary toggle G if the member F isheld against rotation, as presently appearing.

H designates an automatic electro-responsive mechanism for applying suchtoggle tripping pressure on the link 58 of the toggle G, said mechanismincluding a vertically shiftable trip-bar 63 having at its upper end alaterally projecting lug or detent-finger 64 adapted for engaging thelink 58 on downward shifting actuation of the bar 63 for folding andbreaking the toggle G from its described circuit-closing and expandedposition.

Preferably the bar 63 is provided intermediate its ends with alongitudinal slot 65 whose walls have sliding engagement with a pin 66projecting from the frame-plate 11, the finger 64 being engageable bythe link 58 for normally freely liftingly shifting the bar 63 as thetoggle G rises to circuit-closing position.

At its lower end, the bar 63 depends through a slot 6'7 provided in thebase A (Figure 5) and is pivotally connected, as at 68, to therearwardly projecting approximately horizontally disposed arm of abell-crank armature 69 pivotally supported, as at '70, from the upperleg of a rearwardly presented horizontally disposed U-shaped magnet core'71 of an eleotro-magnetic winding '72, the core '71 being supportedfrom and between suitably depending portions of the frame sidemembers11, 12, as best seen in Figures 1 and 6.

The lower leg of the core '71, which supports the winding or coil of themagnet '72, terminates in an oblique-ended pole '73 complementary to thesimilarly shaped end '74 of the approximately vertically depending armof the armature 69, the armature-end '74 being normally operativelyspaced from the pole '73 through the lifting action exerted on the bar63 through its finger 64- by the link 58 when the switch is in closed or"on position.

At one end, the magnet winding '72 is connected by a lead '75 with thecontact 10 through its post 8, and at its other end, the winding '72 isconnected by a lead 76 to a terminal post '77 mounted through the base Aforwardly of the .post 8 and having threaded securing engagement with asuitable line-terminal-lug 78. Preferably the lug '78 is suitablyconnected with the circuit-branch-wire 79, while the circuit feedwire 80is connected with the terminal-post 5 of the fixed contact-terminal 'I.

Connected between the posts 8 and 77, and hence in parallel with themagnet winding 72, is a shunt 81 having a rising-temperaturecharacteristic, such that the shunt 81 offers negligible resistance tonormal current-flow for hence substantially short-circuiting the magnetwinding 72. However, the shunt 81 offers increasing resistance toincreasing current-flow such that, at a predetermined abnormal orexcessive current-flow, the resistance will cause a portion of suchabnormal current-flow to pass through the magnet-winding 72 forenergization thereof sufficiently for attracting the armature-end 74 tothe magnet pole 73, thereby oscillating the bell-crank 69 for downwardactuation of the bar 63 for impinging the bar-carried detent 64 withtoggle-breaking effect upon the link 58, flow of current through thewinding 72 taking place only when the apparatus is in circuit-closingposition.

In use and operation, the apparatus being in circuit-closing position asshown in Figures 1 and 2, manual manipulation of the apparatus tocircuit-opening position may be effected by rearwardly swinging thehandle 51 with ensuing lowering movement of the ears or arm 50 until itscarried primary knuckle pin 59 crosses the line of toggle actionconnecting the points 54, 49, thereby breaking the primary toggle effectand releasing the toggle locking constraint upon the lever E, which isthen actuated by the plunger spring 43 to circuit-opening position.

Ensuing upon such actuation of the lever E, the lever-cam-surface 39bears upon the crankpin 19 of the rocker C, thereby forwardly shiftingthe same about its fulcrum 25 until the spring 36 passes therocker-center, whereupon the increased tension of the now stretched orexpanded spring 36 becomes operative for rapidly and with a snappingeii'ect shifting the rocker C to final circuit-opening position, thespring 36 then being disposed, as described, wholly forwardly of theline connecting the rocker-fulcrum 25 and lever-pintle 34 for biasingthe rocker C upon the front rocker-stop-seats 18.

Meanwhile the switch D, which in circuitclosing position makesconnecting and conducting contact with the switch-blades '7, 10, is byand with such forward actuation of the rocker C caused initially toapproach terminal-disconnecting position, as shown in Figure 8,whereupon correspondingly to the spring-snapped actuation of theswitch-carrying rocker C, the jaws 33, 33', of the switch D are, mosteffectively for arcseverance and suppressing purposes, suddenly andwidely spaced and disconnected from the blades 7, 10, as shown in Figure6.

Under propelling influence of the plungerspring 43, the lever Econtinues its forward movement until the lever-stop 46 impinges theframe stop-bar 47. During the forward movement of the lever E, itsconnected toggle G is constrained by the knuckle torsion spring 61 toremain in its switch-setting operative position, that is, insubstantially rigid toggle-locked position, whereby the co-operatinglinks 53, 58', act as a unitary or non-flexing member for transmittingthe movement of the lever E to the member F, thereby rotating the latterto off position with the handle 51 rearwardly inclined, the severalparts of the apparatus being then disposed as shown in Figure 6.

From its circuit-closing position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, theapparatus may also be automatically tripped responsively to abnormalcurrent flow, which, as has been described, re-

sults in the application of toggle-breaking pressure upon the link 58with ensuing rotative effect, through pin 59 and arm or ears 50, uponthe member F, the expanded and locked toggle G meanwhile pivoting uponthe lever-pin 54 until the primary knuckle pin 59 crosses the line oftoggle action connecting the points 54, 49, thereby releasing theapparatus for movement to its circuit-opening position, as shown inFigure 6, as previously fully set forth.

Whether manually or automatically tripped to its circuit-opening or "01!position, as in Figure 6, the apparatus may with ease and facility berestored to circuit-closing or "on" position by simply forwardlyswinging the handle 51 and thereby rotating the member F, which movementto the member F, being communicated through the rigid'or locked toggle Gto the lever E, correspondingly rearwardly shifts the latter against thepressure of the plunger spring E taking its final rearward position asthe rotatory movement of the member F shifts its carried pin 59 abovethe line connecting the points 54, 49, thus in toggle-like mannerretaining the lever E in its circuit-closing position against thetension of the plunger spring 43.

As the lever E is thus rearwardly shifted, the spring 36 crosses thecenter of the rocker C, whereupon the latter is suddenly snapped", byreason of the increased tensional eifort of the now stretched orexpanded spring 36, to circuitclosing position, the spring 36 thenresiding wholly rearwardly of the line connecting the rockerfulcrum 25and lever-pintle 34, for biasing the rocker C upon the rear rocker stopseats 18.

Such actuation of the rocker C restores the switch D to conducting orcircuit-closing contact with the blades 7, 10, the flared ears 33" ofthe pairs of jaws 33, 33', providing easy guiding entrance of the blades7, 10, therebetween, most desirable in view of the extremely rapidmovement of the switch D to circuit-closing position.

However, if the apparatus is moved to such circuit-closing positionagainst an abnormal condition existing in the switch-connected circuit,such as to cause an excessive current flow therethrough, the shunt 81will with substantially negligible time lag divert sufficient current tothe magnet 72 for actuating the trip-bar 63 as described.

Under such conditions, the member F is "tripfree", that is to say, ifthe handle 51 is manually shifted to and held in on position, theactuation of the trip bar 63 is nevertheless effective for breaking orknuckling the toggle Gto nonoperative position, the link 58 in this caserotating about the now stationary pin 59 and the link 53 rotating on thepin 54 for flexing or folding the toggle G about its knuckle 57, therebyreleasing the lever E for movement of the apparatus to circuit-openingposition as described, the parts then being disposed as clearly shown inFigure 7.

It will be seen that the link 58 now depends in inverted position fromthe pin 59, and hence, before the apparatus may again be actuated forclosing the circuit, it is necessary to first move the handle 51 andmember F to "01! position, thus unfolding or expanding thetoggle-members 53, 58, which under bias of the spring 61, snap intoextended toggle-locked position, the apparatus being then fully restoredto the "oil position shown in Figure 6.

My new switch has been found exceedingly 43, the lever eflicient in useand operation. It is composed of relatively sturdy and inexpensivelymanufactured parts, which may be most readily and convenientlyassembled, and the switch as a whole is compact, durable, and highlyefficient and reliable in the performance of its intended functions.

It will be understood that changes and modiflcations in the form,construction, arrangement,

and combination of the several parts of the apparatus may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing fromthe nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,

1. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, anupstanding support in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted forrocking movement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding an arcuate lever having upper and lower arms andpivotconnection at its lower arm with the support and a spring attachedto the lever and frame and co-operable with the lever for rocking theframe for carrying the jaws into and out of circuitclosing engagementwith the blades, and means for yieldingly urging the frame to, andretaining the frame in, circuit-opening position, said last meansincluding a'spring-pressed plunger mounted for rocking and reciprocatorymovement on the support and plvotally connected at an end to the upperarm of the lever for endwlse exerting actuating pressure on the leverlongitudinally of the support.

2. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, anupstanding support in fixed relation to the blades, a frames mounted forrocking movement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the'frame, meansincluding an arcuate lever having upper and lower arms and pivoted atits lower arm upon the support and a spring attached to the lever and tothe frame and co-operable with the lever for snapwise rocking the framefor carrying the jaws into and out of circuit-closing engagement withthe blades, and means co-operable with the framerocking means foryieldingly urging the frame to, and retaining the frame in,circuit-opening position, said means including a barrel mounted forrocking movement on the support, a plunger rockable with the barrel andplvotally connected at an end to the upper arm of the lever, and atensional member seated in the barrel for compression by the plungerwhen the frame is'in actuated to circuit-closing position.

3. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a pivoted lever for yieldingly rocking the frame for carryingthe jaws into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades,means on the support for exerting pressure endwlse on the lever foryieldingly urging the frame when in circuit-closingpositlon tocircuit-opening position, and means for opposingly exerting pressureendwlse on the lever for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuitclosing position against the influence of said frame-urgingmeans.

4. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, 9.support in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a pivoted lever for yieldingly rocking the frame for carryingthe jaws into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades,means on the support for exerting pressure endwlse on the lever foryieldingly urging the frame when in circuit-closing position tocircuit-opening position, and toggle mechanism for opposingly exertingpressure endwlse on the lever for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuitclosing position against the influence of said frame-urgingmeans.

5. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a pivoted lever for yieldingly rocking the frame for carryingthe jaws into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades,means on the support for exerting pressure endwlse on the lever foryieldingly urging the frame when in circuit-closing position tocircuit-opening position, toggle mechanism for opposingly exertingpressure endwlse on the lever for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuitclosing position, and means for knuckling the toggle for removingthe constraint thereof on the frame-urging means.

6. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a pivoted lever for yieldingly rocking the frame for carryingthe jaws into and out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades,means on the support for exerting pressure endwlse on the lever foryieldingly urging the frame when in circuit-closing position tocircuit-opening position, toggle mechanism including yieldingly foldablemembers for opposingly exerting pressure endwlse on the lever foryieldingly maintaining the frame in circuit-closing position, andmechanism for knuckling said foldable members for removing theconstraint of the toggle mechanism on the frame-urging means.

'7. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support. blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a lever having pivotconnection with the support for yieldinglyrocking the frame for carrying the jaws into and out of circuit-closingengagement with the blades, means on the support co-operable with theframe-rocking means for yieldingly urging the frame when incircuit-closing position to circuitopening position, toggle mechanismco-operable with the framewrocking means in opposition to theframe-urging means for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuit-closing position, said toggle mechanism comprising an armpivotally mounted on the support and foldably connected membersspring-set for operatively linking the arm with the lever, and meanscomprising a member shiftable for engagement with thefoldably connectedmembers for flexing the same relatively to the arm and the lever forknuckling the toggle for removing the constraint thereof on theframe-urging means.

8. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, meansincluding a lever having pivot-conthe frame for carrying the jaws intoand out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades,

means on the support co-operable with the framerocking means foryieldingly urging the frame when in circuit-closing position tocircuit-opening position, toggle mechanism co-operable with theframe-rocking means in opposition to the frame-urging means foryieldingly maintaining the frame in circuit-closing position, saidtoggle mechanism comprising an arm pivotally mounted on the support andfoldably connected members spring-set for operatively linking the armwith the lever, and means comprising electroresponsive members forflexing the foldably connected members relatively to the arm and thelever for knuckling the toggle for removing the constraint thereof onthe frame-urging means.

9. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging Jaws on the frame, means foryieldingly rocking the frame for carrying the jaws into and out ofcircuitclosing engagement with the blades, means on the supportco-operable with the frame-rocking means for yieldingly urging the framewhen in circuit-closing position to circuit-opening position, a primarytoggle co-operable with the framerocking means in opposition to theframe-urging means for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuit-closing position, and a secondary toggle foldably incorporatedin the primary toggle for removing the constraint thereof on theframeurging means.

10. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, means foryieldingly rocking the frame for carrying the jaws into and out ofcircuit-closing engagement with the blades, means on the supportco-operable with the frame-rocking means foinyieldingly urging the framewhen in circuit-closing position to circuit-opening position, a primarytoggle co-operable with the framerocking means in opposition to theframe-urging means for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuit-closing position, and mechanism including a secondary togglefoldably incorporated in the primary toggle and means for flexing thesecondary toggle for removing the constraint of theprimary toggle on theframe-urging means.

11. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on-the support, blade-engaging jaws on the frame, means foryieldingly rocking the frame for carrying the jaws into and out ofcircuit-closing engagement with the blades, means on the supportco-operable with the frame-rocking means for yieldingly urging the framewhen in circuit-closing position to circuit-opening position, a primarytoggle co-operable with the frame-rocking means in opposition to theframeurging means for yieldingly maintaining the frame incircuit-closing position, and mechanism including a secondary togglefoldably incorporated in the primary toggle and electro-magnetic meansfor flexing the secondary toggle for removing the constraint of theprimary'toggle on the frame-urging means.

12. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging laws on the frame, an arcuatelever having upper and lower arms and pivot-connection at its lower armwith the support for rocking movement, a spring attached to the leverand frame and cooperable with the lever for rocking the frame forcarrying the jaws into and out of circuitclosing engagement with theblades, and means for pivotally actuating the lever for effectingactuation of the frame to circuit-closing position, said means includinga manipulative member pivoted on the frame for rocking movement andlinkage pivotally connected to said member and to the upper arm of thelever.

13. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, anupstanding support in fixed relation to the blades, a frame mounted forrocking movement on the support, bladeengaging jaws on the frame, anarcuate lever having upper and lower arms and pivot-connection at itslower arm with the support for rocking movement, a spring attached tothe lever and frame and co-operable with the lever for rocking the framefor snapwise carrying the jaws into and out of circuit-closingengagement with the blades, means including a manipulative membermounted for oscillatory movement on the support and linkage pivotallyconnecting said member with the upper arm of the lever for pushing thelever endwise for effecting rocking movement of the frame tocircuit-closing position, and means for yieldingly urging the frame tocircuit-opening position, said last means including a spring-pressedplunger mounted for rocking and reciprocatory movement on the supportand pivotally connected at an end also to.

the upper arm of the lever for opposingly exerting actuating pressure onthe lever longitudinally of the support.

14. In an electric-switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, asupport in fixed relation to the blades, 9. frame mounted for rockingmovement on the support, blade-engaging laws on the frame, meansincluding a lever for yieldingly rocking the frame for carrying the Jawsinto and out of circuit-closing engagement with the blades, means on thesupport co-operable with the frame-rocking means for yieldingly urgingthe frame when in circuit-closing position to circuit-opening position,and toggle mechanism co-operable with the frame-rocking means foryieldingly maintaining the frame in circuitclosing position against theinfluence of said frame-urging means, said mechanism comprising amanipulative member pivoted on the support, a radial arm on said member,linkage-members pivotally connected to the arm and lever, aknuckle-pin'foldably joining the linkage-members for extension intoggle-locked position, and a torsional spring supported by the pin forcooperation with the linkage-members for yieldingly retaining the samein toggle-locked position.

WILLIAM WURDACK.

